Chapter 37: Returning to Qingyun Sect

Chapter 37: Returning to Qingyun Sect

The doctor’s words were clear.

In plain terms:

Kid, you don’t have many days left. Hurry up and spend all your money before you die and someone else benefits from it.

Chen Huai’an had no choice but to return to his hotel. It was already past nine in the evening.

"Sigh, making money is useless if this disease can’t be cured," he muttered, opening the game.

He saw that Li Qingran had finished her meditation and was now sitting by the window, staring at the moonlit night in a daze.

The girl was probably worried about tomorrow.

But she really had nothing to worry about.

Because at this moment, his bank account held 500,000 yuan.

For this game, 500,000 was already a massive fortune. It was enough to do all sorts of things—an Immortal-Grade Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill only cost 100,000 yuan, and 500,000 might even be enough to buy the life of a Nascent Soul cultivator!

"If only I could spend money to buy myself a new life too," Chen Huai’an sighed.

Unfortunately, his life wasn’t a game, and there was no one outside this game offering him any heaven-defying artifact to change his fate.

Tomorrow, Li Qingran would return to Qingyun Sect.

And he would be heading to Tianmen Mountain to record the variety show.

"In the end, changing fate is still up to me. At least now, I have 500,000 yuan—money that allows me to do things I never dared to dream of before. In some way… isn't this also a form of rewriting destiny?"

Lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, Chen Huai’an spoke to himself.

His anxiety quickly faded.

Things couldn’t possibly get worse than they already were.

From now on, every step forward would be a blessing.

"Sigh, nothing to do for now… might as well give that black cat some acupuncture."

He suddenly remembered that there was still a living creature in this room. He reached into a shoebox and pulled out the black cat.

The cat had been sleeping. When Chen Huai’an placed it on the sofa, its eyes were still dazed. But soon, it reacted, letting out a pitiful "meow" before limping two steps forward, then turning back to meow at him again. ṙΑƝǒ𝔟Ès̩

Could Chen Huai’an resist that?

Staring at the cat’s limp leg, he stroked his chin in thought.

"What acupuncture method should I use? The Pulse-Opening Needle technique worked well last time, though it might have some risks. But hey, the cat’s already limping—what’s the worst that could happen? And besides, my luck can’t be

that

bad."

The black cat stared at Chen Huai’an, deep in thought as well.

【Heh heh, this king is adorable, right? Hurry and treat this king’s injuries! Once I recover, I’ll have a better chance at stealing your treasures… Heh heh heh!】

"Alright, Pulse-Opening Needle it is! Let’s see if this gamble pays off!"

Chen Huai’an pulled out his silver needles and began his acupuncture treatment on the black cat.

Half an hour later…

The black cat stared at its now completely paralyzed right leg, lost in deep contemplation.

【Hiss—! No, no, this isn’t right…】

【Could it be… this brat doesn’t actually know acupuncture?! But my leg was fine before this!】

It had only

pretended

to be injured. Now, it was actually crippled.

A shadow loomed over its vision—Chen Huai’an’s expressionless face.

"You and I were destined to meet," Chen Huai’an intoned solemnly, masking his guilt.

He could tell that the black cat’s right leg was now entirely numb—completely stiff like a wooden club.

"Since fate has brought us together, I shall take responsibility for you. From now on, your name shall be Ba Ji. In the human world, naming a pet means accepting it as one’s own. From today on, you’ll grow up strong and healthy under my care. Whatever I eat, you’ll eat—no picky eating allowed."

While babbling on, Chen Huai’an stuffed the utterly bewildered Ba Ji back into the shoebox and closed the lid.

What would a little cat understand anyway?

Once he fully grasped the Pulse-Opening Needle, he’d fix its leg.

Then, he grabbed his crutch and hobbled downstairs to buy steamed buns.

Now that he had money, he wouldn’t just buy steamed buns—he’d get a chicken drumstick too.

Bang!

The door shut behind him.

On the table, the shoebox suddenly shook violently.

【AAAAHHHH! MY LEG!!!】

【Damn human brat, just you wait! If this king gets the chance, I’ll make you pay!】

At midnight, Chen Huai’an had fallen asleep, his phone still running the Virtual Girlfriend game.

As the clock struck 12, a system notification popped up:

【Remaining lifespan: 72 days.】

"Did you hear? Li Qingran is coming back to the sect!"

"Li Qingran? Who’s that…"

"The one who injured Chixiao Peak’s Little Junior Sister. They say it was intentional. Pretty serious offense—how does she even dare return?"

"Does it even matter if it was intentional? Injuries happen in sect tournaments all the time. Is Chixiao Peak really that dramatic?"

"Shh, stop talking—she’s here!"

All eyes turned toward the entrance of Qingyun Sect.

At some point, a slender figure had appeared there.

She wore a blue-and-white Daoist robe, her long black hair tied at the back with a white ribbon. In her right hand, she carried a pale moon-colored flying sword. As the morning breeze swept past, two strands of hair lifted slightly over her forehead, her robe and sword tassel fluttering gently.

Her pace wasn’t particularly fast, yet in just a few moments, she had reached the sect’s main plaza.

"That’s Li Qingran?"

"People keep saying Mu Baishuang is the most beautiful girl in the sect… that Li Qingran was just jealous of her taking her place in Chixiao Peak… but looking at her now, Li Qingran is

way

more beautiful than Mu Baishuang."

"Heh, Li Qingran was always prettier than Mu Baishuang. When she got expelled from the sect, I actually thought it was a shame."

Li Qingran stood in the center of the plaza, meeting the stares around her.

Qingyun Sect had around 1,200 disciples, and she could clearly hear the buzzing whispers of their discussions.

She didn’t know exactly what they were saying.

Probably nothing good.

Li Qingran, there’s nothing to be afraid of.

She tightened her grip on Su Xian Sword, its icy sheath biting into her palm.

Forged from millennia-old black iron, the blade emitted a faint, frost-like chill even through the scabbard, merging with the morning mist.

But she didn’t feel cold.

On the contrary, her heart was growing steadier.

She wasn’t standing here alone.

She wasn’t without support.

Even though she couldn’t see her Senior’s figure, she could feel his gentle gaze watching over her.

Every day and night—when she was training, eating, sleeping, even bathing—that gaze was always there.

At first, she had been shy and embarrassed. But later, she found that without that presence, she would feel uneasy.

At some point, she had become completely reliant on him.

She knew it wasn’t good, but she couldn’t control her feelings.

She waited.

Time passed, the sun shifting slightly.

One by one, the sect elders arrived. The doors of the main hall opened, and Sect Master Wu Duantian stepped out, flanked by his three direct disciples.

From the peak of Chixiao Peak, five streaks of light shot forth.

A blue flying sword descended first, carrying Daoist Qingxuan. Behind him, Xiao Yifeng, Yun Zimo, and Zhang Hanxiao followed suit, each dismounting their flying swords in the plaza.

Lu Changtian was the last to arrive, with Mu Baishuang seated behind him.

Li Qingran met Mu Baishuang’s gaze indifferently.

Mu Baishuang, on the other hand, visibly flinched and immediately hid behind Lu Changtian.

Suddenly—

A thunderous roar shook the plaza, making Li Qingran’s ears ring.

"Li Qingran! Do you realize your crimes?!"